Jennifer Matt is the managing editor of WhatTheyThink’s Print Software section as well as President of Web2Print Experts, Inc. a technology-independent print software consulting firm helping printers with web-to-print and print MIS solutions. You can reach her at jen@whattheythink.com.

Discussion

The other thing that many business owners forget (when implementing any MIS) is that the package they just bought is usually the product of many years of hands-on experience in a wide range of companies just like theirs. Features and processes are often the result of user feedback from all across the globe, so an important hidden benefit is access to all kinds of different ways to attack the same problems they have.

So, having just written a check in the hope that something better is about to happen to their business (otherwise why write the check in the first place?), the smartest thing they can do is look for ways to leverage that investment - not simply try to make it fit what they've always done.

Sadly, in my experience, the reverse too often applies - a package is bought and thrust into the unprepared hands of the very people who are likely to resist the most, because all change is bad (right?). In such cases the ROI is marginal at best, and invariably the blame is placed squarely on the software.

Then, as you say - rinse and repeat - in the hope that the next mistake will somehow turn out differently. What was that definition of insanity again?

Great point. It is easy to get over confident in area of "i know my workflow the best" rather than do what you're saying is to look at the software as a culmination of requests from many printers like yours.

The other thing I see is that there are often many ways to solve the same issue within a software but the individual you ask at the vendor might only be aware of one way. This requires persistence, ask the same question several times to different people - you will get different takes on the possible solutions.

The best resource for optimizing your software without customization is to create a peer group who all use the same software, share best practices, help each other to push the solution to its limits and maximize your ROI.

An excellent blog about the challenge implementing an MIS/ERP system. Change is difficult for people. Learning something new is more difficult instead of getting rid of your old habits. I think the majority is seeking for automating their bureaucracy, without looking into the mirror and ask themselves what they want. That is a start that will end up with uh..oh. The weird thing is: they accept to upgrade the OS system of iPhone or Android. But refuse to change their "OS" culture. Like Dave Gray said: Your company's culture is your operating system. Everyone who wants to have a new MIS/ERP: rethink your value proposition, culture and business model. Adapt and innovate or get stuck in your old habits and get out of business quicker. The print industry is not a craftsmanship anymore. It is a process industry.